Psychology, Art and the Church

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Recommended: Religion and its effects

Psychology suggests that in order for an individual to lead a mostly healthy life is by assisting him/her to make healthy choices which can create a whole and integrated person. The church provides a belief system for an individual by instilling faith and a good deal of moral guidelines which are respected and honored by him/her by more or less surrendering themselves to that Faith. Art consists of conveying the intimate joys and demons in ways that can possibly confuse or make sense of the world while examining his/her individuality. Individuals can combine different qualities each of these schools to create a sound and pure personality.

Existentialism is a facet of psychology that emphasizes the idea that people are entirely free and therefore responsible for what they make of themselves. With this responsibility comes a profound anguish or dread. This is shown in the character of Meursault in The Stranger by Albert Camus. Meursault is a character who is known to be honest and psychologically detached from the universe surrounding him. Something that would be seen as a significant event for most, such as a marriage proposal or a parent’s death, has no sentimental value to him. He does not grieve or shed tears (neither false nor real) for his mother’s death and does not care that Marie loves him. Meursault is known to be amoral in which he does not draw the distinction between good and bad in his own mind. Although existentialism involves negative cognitive thinking, psychology is still an immense factor in creating someone’s personality and Meursault clearly portrays this with his traits.

Rich Salazar, a university student, was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder after moving into another city in another state and not ...

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...dea of marriage brought upon him by Marie. This resulted in him having an amoral personality meaning he does not illuminate the good from the bad. The church however, suggests that by instilling a faith (such as Catholicism) into an individual, and abiding the moral guidelines given is how his/her personality is affected. This is shown by Rich Salazar in Anna Weaver’s Through a Glass Darkly: How Catholics Struggle with Mental Illness.” He found protection and safety by talking to Father Schwartz of the St. Mary’s Church.

Works Cited

Billings, Lee. "Your Music, Your Personality." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC,
1 Jan. 2006. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: Random House, 1942. Print.

Weaver, Anna. "Through a Glass Darkly: How Catholics Struggle with Mental
Illness."USCatholic.org. U.S. Catholic, 11 Jan. 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

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